Addressing vacancy and dereliction is a priority of this Government. Bringing existing properties back into use provides housing and supports the regeneration of our towns and villages and areas of our cities.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in 2022, is a key measure in addressing vacancy and aligns with the Town Centre First initiative, which is a whole-of-government policy framework to address the decline in the health of towns and support measures to revitalise and regenerate them. Since its introduction, the grant has been a key measure supporting the regeneration and revitalisation of our towns throughout the country.
A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
Currently, applicants may apply for a maximum of two grants under the scheme - where one property will become their principal private residence and the second will be in respect of a property made available for rent. Applications for the grant can only be made currently by named individuals who own the property for which the grant is being applied for or who are actively engaged in purchasing the property. The grant is not currently available to registered companies, developers, undertakings etc.
Since its introduction the grant has been extremely successful with almost 15,000 applications received across the country up to the end of Q3 2025. It has achieved its target, set under the previous housing plan, to support bringing back into use 4,000 homes by the end of 2025.
A review of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was undertaken in 2024, which considered the scheme's conditions and effectiveness. The review - along with the commitments in the Programme for Government - informed the considerations for the new housing plan, Delivering Homes Supporting Communities.
This new Plan reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by Government to tackle the issue of vacancy and dereliction. The Plan includes extension of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, including provision of additional support for the refurbishment and conversion of above the shop vacant space for use as homes. In December, the Government approved the introduction of a Vacant Above the Shop Grant with a package of up to €140,000 to be made available in cases where vacant above the shop space is being converted/refurbished for residential use and the commercial element is remaining. The additional grant amount for above these properties recognises the complexities involved in bringing this space into use. The package includes an Expert Advice Grant of up to €5,000.
My Department is currently progressing work to introduce the Vacant Above the Shop Grant. I expect that it and the Expert Advice Grant will be made available, for delivery by local authorities, in the coming months.
The Housing Plan also commits to exploring an extension of the Vacant Above the Shop Grant to micro companies. It should also be noted that other schemes such as the Repair and Leasing Scheme, which supports bringing vacant properties, including 'above the shop' property, into residential use and SEAI grants are currently available to businesses.
